mason



(No Model.)

w. B. MASON. i COMBINED RBDUUI-NG VALVE 'ANDZSTEAM TRAP.' .,No. 551,778.

Patented 'Deo'. 24', 18

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WILLIAM n. MASON, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNon` *llo'rnn MASON REGULATOR COMPANY, or SAME PLAGE@ COMBINED aEDUcINo-VALVEOAND STEAM-fi'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No'. 551,778, dated lljecerrxiae` Application filed February 25, 1889.v Serial No. 301,100. No modelar:

1o T heiobject of my invention is to produce a single instrument containing a pressure-regulator or reducingvalve by which' steam or other fluid is delivered at -asubstantially uniform pressure at the out-let of the valve, 15 which pressure is lower than that of. the steam or fluid supplied to the valve, said instrument also comprising a trap by which water of condensation or other liquid is discharged from the system of pipes or space supplied by said reducing-valve without permitting the escape of uncondensed iiuid or steam.

For the purpose of enabling` the invention to be more readily understood it mayT be stated that the instrument forming the sub- 2 5 ject of this invention is adapted to be used in connection with steam heating` apparatus such as employed on railway-cars, although the invention is not limited to such use, but

is applicable to any case where it is desirable 3o to perform the functions of a` reducing-valve and steam-trap in one appara-tus.

When applied to railway-car heating", the cars are provided with amain steam-supply pipe extending from the locomotive and thence directly from one to another of the cars of the train, and the steam is commonly delivered to the said supply-pipe from the locomotive-boiler through a reducing-valve which diminishes the pressure considerably below the boiler-pressure, but still leaves it much higher than required for heat-ing. purv poses, it being, for example, admitted to said supplypipe and retained therein at a pressure of about forty pounds to the inch.

".fhe Yinstrument forming the subject of this invention is interposed between the said supply-pipe and the radiating or heating pipes within the cars or spaces to be heated, and the reducing-valve of the instrumentoperates 5o to deliver the steam into the said radiators atcollecting-chamber or 1' a suitable pressure for -lieatiligbiiiipo example, at about five pounds'toLt above the atmospheric pressure f A pipe or collector for the ivatelrfqf tion from said radiating flsb, Cates with-theinstrument riifil tle s of this invention, whicl discharging the water thei with the operation of tlle red en J Figure l is a side elevf'atiitof1`-coiii'li reducing-valve and trapy embodying` this i`li-` vention; Fig. 2, a longitud-inalsection-thereof 6 5 on line 22 of Fig. 1; andf- "Y i transverse sections oir` li spectively, of Fig. 2.

The instrument compris` a, having inlet and outlt'opnil 19 arated by a partition Shaving operi-nig f:

and valve-seat controlle ,byth *in proper b, which "works iirtlie inlet side valve-chamber and is tliiis epb'sedfv v per side to the pressure of-thesiippled staiii 7 5 which tends to force the Said 1 valve tov its seat. It is shown as also'prt)videdtwithal light spring c, contained in a reino lil tl' i'etoi cap c2 at the upper parti ofi-'lith alve, vliicl'f spring tends to move the* seat.

The valve body or slrellfa areservoir or collecting-fel inlet and outlet portion l' e-f preferably separated tlier roi l5" itl' itiiti'rif 8 a6, although the said reseriiii 'iight {cont} E municate with the outlet portion ofthe'main` valve-chamber without.v materially changing'. the operation of the inst Tflefsaitl partition u, or a portion ot he'finain Potr' 9o shell of the apparatus 'below tiletiutltffpoi tion of the valve, is prov-ide vitlliit'giil for the steml of Lthe val giwlii" iia-it loosely in said guide soas work Y, there is no necessity oft-inihtiitiliigai iight 9 division between the outlet portion; iilltliei t" valve and the reservifrfl. The? i-eser? voir a'lmay be, as shown,*xnadeinteg'ral castin one piece with the" body" 0f tliejvalve' .lli

mayhave an easy tit in the said cylinder and does not require packing. The said piston d is of larger area than the valve b, and said piston ora rigid, extension thereof acts on the stein b2 oftheniain valve b, so that upward force applied to the piston d is transmitted through` .the stem vZitto the 'valve Z), with a tendency to lift the latter oii: from its seat, While downward movement of the piston d permits the valve b to move toward its seat vunder the action ofthe pressure exerted upon it both by the uid entering the valve and by the spring c.

The reservoirais provided at a point above the pistonldwith, an inlet a?, which communicates -withfthe system of radiating-pipes or whateverwother space is supplied with the rstearnthat passes through the main reducingvalve,` and the entire' instrument is located at ,such a` level that vthe passage as constitutes a drip-passage or receives the liquid formed by the condensation of the fluid which has passed through the reducing-valve so that said liquid ent-ers the reservoir a5 above the piston d, which is exposed at its upper surface to the pressure of the iiuid at the outlet side of the main valve andfis-adapted to be moved downward as said pressure increases. l

.'Ehepiston d is acted upon at its under side bya springe, which exerts suticient force to'overcome themaximum pressure that may be applied atthe inlet side of `the valve to the main`valvefb,.s t `that when there is no down- Wardforceact-ing 011 the upper side of the piston d the spring e will raise the same and also raise they valve b oft from its seat sutiieiently toaiord the full or maximum opening required forathe valve, so that the fluid ,willbepermitted `to flow through the said valve tinto the radiators or spaces supplied by said valve, and as ite pressure rises in said radiatorsfowing to -the continued admission 'ofiiuid-from'the supply-pipe', it will act upon the upper surface of the valve b, tending' to oppose the force of the spring e, which will be so adjusted that-when the pressure rises to the desired maximum amount in the supplied space the said spring will be compressed yfar-enough to permit the valve bto close, and

i thus cut otf further admission of fluid until thepressure-in the supplied space falls below the.desiredpredetermined or normal amount.

dAs the area of the piston d is considerably greater than that of the valve b, ai much smaller pressure to the square inch in the su pplied passages is effective to overcome the spring e than is required in the supply-passages to overcome said spring c by pressure on the main valve ZJ, and consequently while the said spring e may be adequate to open the main valve b against a pressure upon it of considerably more than the normal pressure h of forty pounds. when a pressure of five pounds is applied tothe upper-side of the piston d it will, in conjunction with the pressure on the valve b, be sniiicient tocompress the spring c so as to permit the closing of the main valve su liicientl y to prevent further risc in pressure at the outlet side of the main valve.

The force of the spring p may be regulated and adjusted so as to maintain the desired pressure in the receiving-pipes by means of a movable head or follower c? which forms t-he support for the lower end of the spring and screws into the lower end of the chamber a5. In order to fasten the said follower when properly adjusted it is split radially at one side, as shown at e3, and provided with a tapering threaded passage into which is screwed a tapering screw ci, which expands the follower slightly after it has been adjusted so as to lock it against unscrewing in the end of the chamber a5.

The parts thus far described would operate as a reducing-valve independently of any function of the apparatus as a trap, it being necessary only thatthe stem b2 of the main valve should rest against the upper side of the piston d or a suitable extension thereof.

In order to provide for the operation as a trap to discharge water of condensation from the supplied space without permitting the escape of steam, the said piston J7 is provided with a central opening di, which contains a valveseat d3, shown as made in the end of a tubular piece or thimble d4, that screws into the said passage d, and has a stem d5 that extends down through a central opening in the head e2 that supports the spring e and is provided with a suitable wrench-head or other means to enable it to be turned for the purpose of adj ustingthe said piece d* in the piston for the purpose that will be hereinafter explained.

rlhe tubular piece d* is connected with the stem di by arms d (see Fig. 5) so as to afford a passage from the interior of the thimble (Z3 into the portion of the chambervai that contains the spring e, which may be called the spring-chamber, and there is a suiiicient opening in the head e2, around the stem d, to permit the escape of any liquid that may flow down into the space below the piston (7. The passage through and below the valve-seat di thus constitutes an outlet-passage from the trap reservoir or chamber ci", and said outletpassage is controlled by a valve j`,which is guided by projections fl above the valve-seat d3.' (See Fie'. 3.) The said valve fina-y be operated by any of the 'various contrivances einployed for opening and closing a valve according as a condensed liquid rises and falls or displaccs land is displaced bythe non-condensed or elastic Huid or vapor. As shown in this instance, the piston d is provided with uprights g (see Fig'. that support a ringI or ann ulus 7:., which in turn supports a diaphragm or iiexible partition 1', forming one wall of a IOO TIO

' by a sprl l. the valve as l .AS-longues@ Naphtha or some ofthe volatile hydrecar-- boniiuidsormixtures thereof may beused in fc'hambeg tol operate the, diaphragm and Tufjperatin' ffthesevpmfts is as-fontes;

in the reservoir c5, around the-chambe or devices responsive to change of Aconditie the surrounding -iiuid-ft'. e., the use an iefttefeenuenseu ligera-nte contentent ,said chamber-will besuciently 'expandedfjgo keep;lthebvalvegelosed'and there will be practicallyn' i 1tlet'frcm the supplied passages oi' i theina n.red 1icing,valve. When,

'howevenmhe con ps edjliqnid collects and verT theisensitive. mate-1 heflattery iis protected fmmtnqheat nde'use steam', and the walter A'of ensa ion,'"after'covering the said v'chamber istalready 'or soonl becomes risesj s uiciently j rial in ethechamb suiiiciently coohtlV to permit* contraction 'of the material' in'. said chamber and consequent opening .of the valve f by its 'spring m, Whe-n the liquid willv be-.ezipelled vth'reugli the pas sage in the pistonfol, and-the steam will .again surround theresponsivef device. 7c, which willl respond to such condition and-cause the valve permitted to escape. [he valveseat d3 is slightlyA abovethe upper'surface of '.the piston d, sothat'even ifthe valvef does notrespond immediately after the level ofthe liquid passes below the responsive device k lthere will always be left a slight amount ofv liquid above the piston which serves as a suiiicient packing to prevent the escape oi? steam around .the piston, which, as'before. stated, is not packed; lt stight enough, however, to. prevent the escape. of lliquid with any great rapidityf-that is, the. escape around the piston should always bef'less than the normal rate of accumulationr from. the condensation of the liquid, so thatalthou gh the liquid may always the apparatus is in operatiomwholly uncovers said piston, so as to permit leakage of steam.

The seat piece.cl4 may be adjusted relative to thechamber 7c by turning the stern d5 so as tomake the'valve frespond properly to the action of the chamber k and material therein.

It will bes'eennthat the operationof the apparatus in eachof its functions does not interfere with its operation for the otherfunction-that is, the piston d .with all the parts supported on it constituting the operative starve" part .the mami-valve 'bwithout" at allV interfering v'with the action of' the said operative parts oi .to

the trap,I` although. the constituting Ythe trap are mechanically" combined with ,the valve so'as to constitute practically a-single 1 instrument havingbotliiunctions'.`

Such combined instrument besides bein-g less expensive than two separate instruments .for performing the two desired operations is vmore eectiye and desirable for various other reasons, among which may be mentioned the following: The'water paclting'for the piston dis an advantage, as it aords great freedom of movement to said piston, which also operates to a certain extent like a dashqiot to prevent too great'suddenness of movement of the `said piston and main valve b. Further than -this by .having the trap-reservoir integral or intimately connected with the valve it is kept sunieiently heated Vafter the steam iscut off from. the i'nlet-pipeanrl the apparatusl is vby the iiow of steli-,in through' the valve when the steam was next turned on before it would be necessary for the trapt-,valveto operate.v

The part-s are constructed so that all the adjustment required may be made with an jordinary monkey-wrench andthe entire instrument may be very easily taken to pieces. Thus by unscrewing the head. e2 the spring e and the piston d and the parts connected with 'it may be immediately removed from the ap# f to closeas before, vs o that no steamgwill be paratus, and by unscrewing the' cap c2 the springe and main valve b may be removed, thus leaving cul ythe kone.treating orshell cnnected with the piping. The seat d4 ina-y then be unscrewed frein the valve cl and the valve f and its spring may then be withdrawn and repaired or replaced, if' need be;

The invention is not limited, how-ever, to the specic construction of the various parts, as it is obvious that they may be varied and. that other devices having substantially the same functions may be substituted for the elements-shown without materially changing the operation of the combined elements, and Whilev steam has'been spoken of as the iiuid to be controlled bythe valve and trap it is Ybeleaking-areundtlie' pisten-d-it neverT while-...

nistrations/:that .the apparatus... .would operate with other fluids, being applicable to any apparatus in which it is pressure oi iluid and also to separate fluid in the liquid form irom'iiuid in the gaseous form.

lclaim n v l. The combination oiv a main valve shell having inlet and outlet. openings; and a main valve governing the passage of iiuid from one to the other ofx said openings; with a-collecting chamber or reservoir connected with and located below said valve shell; a piston worki .thrown out of operationto preventfreezing, as whatever water may. remain atsuch time IOO iig

esiredto regulate the ing in said collecting chamber and provided with an outlet passage through said piston; a valve controlling said outlet passage; and means, such for example as a diaphragm chamber and volatile Huid therein, for actuating said valve, controlled by the rise and fall of liquid in said reservoir, substantially as and t'or the purpose described.

i). The f i unbination of the main shell having inlet and outlet openings, and main valve governing the passage of fluid from one to the other of said openings, with a collecting chamber or reservoir and piston therein, adapted to operate said main valve, said piston being exposed to the delivered tlnough said main valve and acted upon by a spring in opposition to said pressure, and said reservoir having an outlet and a valve controlling said outlet, and means contained in said reservoiagfsuch for example as a diaphragm chamber-and volatile iluid therein, for actuating thefsalne controlled by the rise and fall of liquid in' said reservoir, substantially as described. i

3. The combination of a'inain valve shell having inlet-:and outletopenings and a main valve governing the passage of Huid from one to the other of said openings, with a collecting chamber or reservoir connected with and located below the said valve shell, a pist-on working in said collecting chamber and provided with a passage through said piston, and.y

witha valve seat. a valve controlling said passage in the piston, and a diaphragm chamber supported on said liquid expansible by heat for operating the said valve bythe movement ofsaid diaphragm according as said chamber is surrounded by liquid or nou-condensed fluid, said piston and pressure of the fluid piston containing a connected parts cooperating with the main valve, substantially as described.

el. The combination of a main valve. sl1ell having inlet and outlet openings and afin'ain val vc governing the passage of fluid from one 'to the other of said openingsv with a collecting chamber or reservoir connected with and located below the said valve shell, a piston Working in said collecting chamber and provided with a passage through said piston, and seat piece longitudinallyadjustable in said passage, and valve cooperating with the seat 'thereof and means for actua-ting said valve,

substantially as described.

5. The combination of a main valve shell having inlet and outlet openings a-nd a main valve governing-the passage of fluid from one to the other of said openings with a collec ing chamber or reservoir connected with a located below the said valve shell, a pisto Working in said collecting chamber and vided with a passage through said piston, seat piece longitudinally passage, and valve cooperating with tl'ief'ise'a-t thereof and means for actuating said valve;

a spring below said piston and-adjustable support therefor, at the 'end of the collecting chamber, said support having a., discharge passa-ge and the seatpiece in thejpis'ron having a stem extending through saidlischargc passage, substantially as described; l

In testimony whereof I havsigned vin v -,name to this specifica-tion in the two subscribing Witnesses. v

WM. B. MASON. Yitnessesz J oHN II. Monlsox,

JAS. J. MALONEY.

presencey of adjustablev insaidj 

